N52 valve cover gasket replacement

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:12 pm

Hi all

Slight weep of oil means I think it’s time to do the valve cover gasket on the coupe

Q1- mine is a silver top engine, is that the one that needs new bolts or can I reuse?

Q2 while that’s off what else is worth replacing?

Cheers

Stuart

1536Z4 · Post by **1536Z4** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:10 pm

Q1.

I didn`t change mine and I have the black top so either I should have or you need to

Q2.

This is what I changed when doing mine .

Valvetronic Gasket 11127552280

Gasket 11127559699

Eccentric shaft sensor 11377524879

You are also advised to get a spare one of these 11157559528 as they are prone to braking when taking them off but mine didn`t brake . It depends if you need the car before getting a replacement if required .

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:13 pm

1536Z4 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:10 pm Q1.

I didn`t change mine and I have the black top so either I should have or you need to

Q2.

This is what I changed when doing mine .

Valvetronic Gasket 11127552280

Gasket 11127559699

Eccentric shaft sensor 11377524879

Legend

Thank you!!!

1536Z4 · Post by **1536Z4** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:16 pm

bigwinn wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:13 pm Thank you!!!

Just added another bit for you

1536Z4 · Post by **1536Z4** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:28 pm

Just had a thought you may have different part numbers as yours is the silver top . Pretty sure you are supposed to replace the bolts on your engine though .

Just found this

viewtopic.php?p=1981640#

j3nks79 · Post by **j3nks79** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:56 pm

Valvetronic gasket is different from black top

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:11 pm

Cheers chaps

Bmw Enthusiast · Post by **Bmw Enthusiast** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:31 pm

About to do my N52 with the black cover. Research indicates that I don't need to replace the bolts. They are captive on the valve cover. See the other recommended part above is the crank case breather pipe that runs from the rocker cover. Can this be changed with out taking the inlet manifold off? Any thoughts welcomed thanks.

j3nks79 · Post by **j3nks79** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:34 pm

Bmw Enthusiast wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:31 pm About to do my N52 with the black cover. Research indicates that I don't need to replace the bolts. They are captive on the valve cover. See the other recommended part above is the crank case breather pipe that runs from the rocker cover. Can this be changed with out taking the inlet manifold off? Any thoughts welcomed thanks.

I just bought a whole new cover with the pcv on it. Includes all new gaskets
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333399659227 ... media=COPY

Bmw Enthusiast · Post by **Bmw Enthusiast** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:46 pm

I'm replacing the whole cover too with a Febi Bilstein one, but no pipe with mine. Will just have to be very careful when I disconnect it.

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:56 pm

Bmw Enthusiast wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:46 pm I'm replacing the whole cover too with a Febi Bilstein one, but no pipe with mine. Will just have to be very careful when I disconnect it.

If they are like the m54 ones you have to go some to break them and it’s usually when you apply twisting pressure

Bmw Enthusiast · Post by **Bmw Enthusiast** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:16 pm

Ahh, thanks. Will be careful. Planning to do it later in the week. Thanks for the tip.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:22 pm

I'm pretty sure you need to replace the bolts on all N52 engines because they are aluminium "stretch" bolts.

That's so they match the thermal expansion/contraction characteristics of the Magnesium/Aluminium block and head, which steel bolts wouldn't.

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:26 pm

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:22 pm I'm pretty sure you need to replace the bolts on all N52 engines because they are aluminium "stretch" bolts.

That's so they match the thermal expansion/contraction characteristics of the Magnesium/Aluminium block and head, which steel bolts wouldn't.

Gotcha

On order just in case

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:42 pm

The previous owner of my 330i with the N52 had a new cam-cover gasket fitted just before I bought it by a local garage, but told me he had insisted they used new bolts.

The invoice includes the comment "Found front O/S corner of rocker cover had 2 bolts snapped off and been left in holes" so they had to drill them out!

Shame he didn't get the oil filter housing gasket replaced though.

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com